Conveyor mechanism for straight bar knitting machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 QQNQN k j R. M. SANDERS CONVEYOR MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHTBAR KNITTING MACHINES June 18, 1968 Filed April 4, 1966 N m I. IN. KM.rill. T .v Q M. L 1 8 1 Mm. QM \M k a Q Q\ Q\ June 18, 1968 R. M.SANDERS 3,388,564

CONVEYOR MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 4, 1966 1/ HEM gm E \g at m m5 lll United States Patent 3353 564 coNvEYon r/rncnm usivi ron STRAIGHT BAR KNITTWG MACHINES RobertM. Sanders, Reading, Pa, assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing,Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 540,0087 Ciaims. (Cl. 66148) This invention relates to straight bar orfull-fashioned knitting machines for knitting fiat selvaged fabricblanks to preformed welts and more particularly to means for conveyingthe preformed welts from a loading position to the knitting sections ofthe machine for transfer to the needles of the knitting sections.

In multisection full-fashioned knitting machines for knitting fashionedfabric blanks such as for sweaters and the like, preformed rib welts areinitially topped or transferred to the needles of each knitting sectionand the remainder of the blank then knit thereto. Heretofore, thepreformed welts were placed on transfer bars carried in carriages whichwere mounted for movement on a track extending along the front of themachine, around one end and along the back thereof with the carriagesbeing connected in trains to a chain completely encircling the machineand operated by a motor. The motor is operated in one direction to movethe train of carriages from a loading position on the track at the backof the machine to successively position each carriage at a loadingstation at the one end of the machine where the transfer bar of eachcarriage received a preformed welt and then along the track at the frontof the machine to position the carriages at the knitting stations wherethe preformed welts are transferred from the transfer bars to theneedles of the knitting sections. Following transfer of the welts to theneedles of the respective knitting sections, the motor is operated inthe reverse direction to return the trains of carriages to the back ofthe machine for subsequent movement through the loading station toreceive other welts. While the above noted mechanism provided the motivepower required to move the trains of carriages between loading andtransfer positions, it was cumbersome in structure and presented ahazard to the operator when attempting to service the machine.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means in afull-fashioned knitting machine for conveying preformed Welts from aloading station to a position at which the welts are transferred fromthe conveying means to the fabricating means of the machine which willovercome the above noted and other objections to the prior mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means in afull-fashioned knitting machine which includes means for supportingpreformed fabric portions, means for conveying the supporting meansbetween a loading station and a position at which the fabric portionsare transferred from the supporting means to the fabricating means ofthe machine, and means extending along the front of the machine foroperating the conveying means in opposite directions between the loadingstation and transfer position. The means also includes means forstopping and latching the conveying means in the transfer positionduring transfer of the fabric portions to the fabricating means andmeans for releasing the latching means during movement of the conveyingmeans from the transfer position to the loading station.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of theinvention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides inthe novel elements, features of construction and cooperation" of partsas hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a multisection full-fashioned knittingmachine having transfer bar conveying mechanism according to theinvention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view on an enlarged scale of the operatingmeans for the conveyor mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the mechanism ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 44 of FIG. 3,parts being shown in elevation and other parts being shown in crosssection; and

FIG. 5 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the electrical controlcircuit for the conveyor operating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 there is showna portion of a multisection fullfashioned knitting machine for knittingfabric blanks such as for sweaters and the like including center frames10, end frames 11, a back beam 12, a front beam and a front bed or table16. The beams, front bed and a center bed (not shown) are secured to thecenter and end frames to form the conventional framework of the machine.Each knitting section, indicated at 17, has fabricating means includinga needle bar provided with a row of spring bearded needles 21 whichcooperate with sinkers and knockover bits to form yarn fed thereto byyarn carriers (not shown) into loops of the fabric blanks.

In the usual practice, the blanks are knitted to preformed rib weltswhich are initially manually placed on transfer bars 22, one for eachknitting section of the machine, at a loading station, indicateddiagrammatically at 25, at the front of and adjacent one end of themachine. Each transfer bar after receiving a welt is placed in acarriage 2s and the carriages which are connected to each other by linksto form a train are mounted for movement on a track 27. As indicated inFIG. 1, the track 27 has a straight run 31 which extends along the backof the machine, a straight run 32 extending along the front of themachine and a curved portion 35 connecting the straight runs. The trainof carriages each with an empty transfer bar is initially positioned onthe track 27 at a loading position with the leading carriage, indicatedat 26a, at the loading station 25 to receive a welt and the trailingcarriage, indicated at 2611, at the back of the machine (FIG. 1). Thecarriages 26 are then advanced successively to the loading station untilthe transfer bar of each carriage has a welt and the train of carriagesis then advanced to bring each carriage to a transfer position at itsrespective knitting section where the transfer bars are removed from thecarriages and operated, by means not shown herein and forming no part ofthe instant invention, to transfer the welts to the needles 21 of theknitting sections. Following transfer of the preformed welts to theneedles of the knitting sections the transfer bars are returned to thecarriages and the train of carriages again returned to loading position.

For moving the train of carriages 26 along the track 27 between loadingand transfer positions the carriage 26a is connected at 38 to the upperrun of an endless chain 36 which is trained over a driven sprocket wheel37 and an idler sprocket wheel 40, and plates 41 and 42 carried on theframework of the machine which act to support the upper and lower runsof the chain respectively, between the sprocket wheels (FIGS. 1 and 2).The sprocket 37 is mounted on a drive shaft 45 carried in a bracket 46mounted between the end frame 11 and adjacent center frame 10 at theleft end of the machine. The shaft 45 carries a second sprocket wheel 47which is connected by a chain 50 to a sprocket wheel 51 mounted on theoutput shaft of a gear reduction unit 52 which is connected to anddriven by a motor 55, the motor and gear reduction unit also beingmounted on bracket 46. The sprocket wheel is adjustably carried on abracket mounted on the end frame 11 and adjacent center frame 10 at theright end of the machine.

The motor 55, which is of the reversible type, is connected into anelectrical circuit, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5, including mainconductors of a three phase source of electrical energy indicated at 56which are connected to buses 57, 58 and 59. The motor is connected tothe buses 57, 58 and 59 by leads 60' which pass through stationarycontacts 61 and movable contacts 62 of a first switch or relay 65. Themovable contacts 62. are carried on a core member 66 which is adapted tobe operated by a coil or winding 67 when the coil is energized to movethe movable contacts 62 into engagement with the stationary contacts 61.The core member 66 is biased by a spring 70 in a direction to disengagethe stationary and movable contacts when the coil 67 is deenergized. Thecoil 67 is in a control circuit including a lead 71 which is connectedto and passes through stationary contacts 72 and a movable contact 75carried on a start button 76 of a start and stop switch 77, thestationary and movable contacts being normally biased to open positionrelative to each other. From stationary contacts 72 the circuitcontinues through stationary contacts 80 and a movable contact 81 of anormally closed stop button 82 of the switch 77 to a lead 85 which is inturn connected to a transformer 86. The transformer 86 is connected tobuses 58 and 59 and is adapted to reduce the voltage from the mainconductors 56 to that required in the control circuit. The circuitthrough the coil 67 and transformer is completed through a lead 87.

The coil 67 is also in a holding circuit for maintaining it energizedincluding stationary contacts 90 and a movable contact 91 on the coremember 66 of the relay 65 when these contacts are engaged by themovement of the core member to engage the stationary contacts 61 andmovable contacts 62. The stationary contacts 90 are connected by a lead92 through normally closed stop switches 95, 96 and 97 to the stopbutton 82 of the switch 77. The stop switches 95, 96 and 97 are operatedby the carriages 26 as hereinafter set forth to de-energize the coil 67to open the circuit to the motor through relay 65.

The motor 55 is also connected to buses 57, 58 and 59 by leads 100 whichpass through stationary contacts 101 and movable contacts 102 of asecond switch or relay 105. The movable contacts 102 are carried on acore member 106 which is operated by a coil or winding 107 when the coilis energized to move the movable contacts into engagement with thestationary contacts. The coil 107 is in a control circuit including alead 110 which is connected to and passes through stationary contacts111 and a movable contact 112 carried on a second Start button 115 ofthe switch 77, the stationary and movable contacts being normally biasedto open position relative to each other. From stationary contacts 111the circuit continues through the stop button 82 of the switch 77 to thelead 85. The coil 107 is also in a holding circuit for maintaining itenergized including stationary contacts 116 and a movable contact 117 onthe core member 106 of the relay 105 when these contacts are engaged bythe movement of the core member 106 to engage stationary contacts 101and movable contacts 102. The stationary contacts 101 are connected by alead 120 to the lead 92 through stop switches 95, 96 and 97 and stopbutton 82 of the switch 77. The relay 65 is connected to the buses 57,58 and 59 in a manner to cause the motor to operate in a forwarddirection and relay 105 is connected to the buses in a manner to causethe motor to operate in a reverse direction.

The relays 65 and 105 are connected by leads 121 through stationarycontacts 122 and movable 125 of a control relay 126 to a high speedwinding in the motor 55. The movable contacts 125 are carried on a coremember 127 which is adapted to be operated by a coil or winding 130 whenthe coil is energized to move the movable contacts into engagement withthe stationary contacts. The coil 130 is in a control circuit includinga lead 131 which is connected to the lead 87 and a lead 132 which isconnected to and passes through stationary contacts 135 and a movablecontact 136 on a core member 138 of a control relay 137. From thestationary contacts 135 the circuit continues through a lead 140 andthrough the normally closed high speed side of high and low speedcontrol switches 141, 142 and 143 associated with the stop switches 95,96 and 97, respectively. From the switch 43 the circuit continuesthrough the lead 92 and stop switches 95, 96 and 97.

The relays 65 and 105 are also connected by the leads 121 throughstationary contacts 145 and movable contacts 146 of the relay 137 to aslow speed winding in the motor 55. The movable contacts 146 are carriedon the core member 138 which is adapted to be operated by a coil orwinding 150 when the coil is energized to move the movable contacts intoengagement with the stationary contacts. The coil 150 is in a controlcircuit including a lead 149 connected to the lead 87 and a lead 151which passes through stationary contacts 152 and the movable contact 136when the coil is energized to the lead 92. The lead 151 is alsoconnected to a lead 155 which connects the low speed side of theswitches 141, 142 and 143.

In operation with the train of carriages in loading position and thecarriage 26:: at the loading station 25, after a welt is placed on thetransfer bar 22 thereof, the start button 76 is operated to energize thecoil 67 to operate the core member 66 to close the circuit from the mainconductors 56 through the relay 65, to close the circuit through stopswitches 95, 96 and 97 and through the high speed sides of the switches141, 142 and 143. Closing the circuit through the high speed side of theswitches 141,

142 and 143 closes the circuit through the stationary coni tacts 135 andmovable contact 136 of relay 137 to energize the coil 130 and operatethe core member 127 to close the circuit from relay 65 through relay 126to the high speed winding of the motor 55 to operate the motor in theforward direction at high speed. Operation of the motor 55 in turnoperates the chain to move the carriage 26a from the loading station 25and to advance the next carriage in the train toward the loadingstation.

As the next carriage 26 approaches the loading station, a lug 156 (FIG.2), provided on each of the carriages in the train, engages theoperating button of the switch 142 to open the high speed side thereofto break the circuit through relay 137 to the coil 130 of relay 126 topermit operation of this relay to open the circuit from relay 65 to themotor and close the low speed side of the switch. Closing of the circuitthrough the low speed side of switch 142 energizes the circuit to thecoil 150 to operate the relay 137 to close the circuit to the slow speedwinding of the motor to slow the speed of the motor and chain 36. As thetrain of carriages continues to move the lug 156 on the second carriageengages the operating button of the stop switch 96 to open the circuitthrough lead 92 thereby de-energizing the coils 67 and 150 to permitoperation of relays 65 and 137 to open the circuit there through to stopthe motor as the second carriage reaches the loading station. After awelt is placed on the transfer bar of the second carriage at the loadingstation each of the following carriages are successively advanced to theloading station in a like manner to receive a welt.

When the transfer bar of the last or trailing carriage 26b in the trainreceives its welt, the starting button 76 is operated to start the motor55 and chain 36 to move the carriages toward transfer position at therespective knitting sections for transfer of the welts to the needles ofthe sections. During this latter movement of the train of carriages, asthe carriages approach the transfer position the lug 156 on the leadingcarriage 26a engages and operates the button of switch 141 to open thehigh speed side and close the low speed side thereof to slow the speedof the motor and the lug 156 then engages the stop switch 95 to open thecircuit and stop the motor in the same manner as switches 142 and 96.

Substantially simultaneously with the Stopping of the motor by the stopswitch the leading carriage 26a engages a stop which accuratelypositions the carriages at the respective knitting sections for thetransfer operation and means are provided to maintain the train ofcarriages in the stopped position until the transfer operation iscompleted. For this purpose the carriage 26:: carries a bracket 157which is adapted to engage a stop screw 160 adjustably carried in ablock member 161 mounted in fixed position on the framework of themachine (FIGS. 2 and 3). A latch member 162, pivotally mounted on thebracket 157, has a vertically extending surface 165 adapted for latchingengagement with a surface 166 on the block member 161 when the bracket157 is in engagement with the stop screw 161 The latch member 162 alsohas a camming surface 167 adapted to cooperate with a camming surface170 on the block member 161 to raise the a latch member above the blockmember 161 as the carriage approaches the end of its movement and thelatch member is moved by gravity into latching engagement with the blockmember when the surfaces 165 and 166 are aligned with each other. Thelatch member 162 also has an arm 1'71 for engagement with one arm 172 ofa lever 173 pivotally mounted on a stud 174 carried in a bracket 176fixed to the framework of the machine (FIGS. 3 and 4).

A second arm 177 of the lever 173 is pivotally connected by a link 178to a core member 179 of a solenoid 1811. The solenoid 180 is connectedby a lead 131 to the lead 87 and by a lead 182 through lead 119 to thestationary contacts 111 of the start button 115. The lever 173 isoperated to raise the latch member 162 to disengage the block member 161when the solenoid 130 is energized and operated as hereinafter set forthand a spring 183 connected between the link 178 and the bracket 176turns le-ver 173 to the position of FIG. 4 when the solenoid isde-energized thereby permitting movement of the latch member to latchingengagement with the block member when the train of carriages is intransfer position.

Following transfer of the welts on the transfer bars 22 to the needlesof the respective knitting sections of the machine the start button 115is operated to close the circuit to energize the coil 107 therebyoperating the core member 1116 to close the circuit from the mainconductors 56 through the relay 1115. Operation of the start button 115also closes the circuit through leads 181 and 182 to energize andoperate the solenoid 180 to raise the latch member 162 and release thecarriage 26a, and closes the circuit through the stop switches 95, 96and 97 and through the high speed sides of the switches 141, 142 and143. Closing the circuit through the switches 141, 142 and 143 alsocloses the circuit through relay 137 to energize the coil 130 to operatethe relay 126 and close the circuit from relay 105 through relay 126 tothe high speed winding of the motor to operate the motor in the reversedirection thereby operating the chain 36 to move the train of carriagesfrom transfer position toward the loading position. As the leadingcarriage 26a approaches the loading station 25, the lug 156 on thecarriage 26b engages and operates the button of switch 143 to deenergizerelay 126 and energizes the relay 137 to slow the speed of the motor 55and chain 36 and the lug then engages the stop switch 97 to open thecircuit and stop the motor and chain, in the same manner as switches 142and 96, when the carriage 26a is at the loading station.

It will be understood that the improvements specifically shown anddescribed, by which the above results are obtained, can be changed andmodified in various ways without departing from the invention hereindisclosed and hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a multisection knitting machine having fabricating means forfabricating flat selvaged fabric blanks to preformed welts aftertransfer to said fabricating means, means for conveying said welts to aposition for transfer to said fabricating means including a transfer barfor a welt for each of said knitting sections, a train of carriages onwhich said transfer bars are mounted, a loading station at the front ofsaid machine adjacent one end thereof, a track on which said train ofcarriages are mounted for movement from a loading position, in which aleading carriage of said train is at said loading station to receive awelt and a trailing carriage of said train is at a position at the backof said machine remote from said loading station, and a transferposition in which said welts are transferred from said transfer bars tosaid fabricating means, means for moving said train of carriages betweensaid loading and transfer positions during which each of said transferbars on said carriages receives a welt at said loading station, fixedmeans engageable with said leading carriage for stopping said train ofcarriages in said transfer position, and latch means for holding saidtrain of carriages in said transfer position during transfer of saidwelts from said transfer bars to said fabricating means.

2. In a machine according to claim 1 in which said moving means for saidtrain of carriages includes an endless chain extending along the frontof said machine and connected to said leading carriage in said train,and a motor for operating said chain in one direction to move saidcarriages past said loading station from said loading position to saidtransfer position and for operating said chain in a direction oppositeto said one direction to move said train of carriages from said transferposition to said loading position.

3. In a machine according to claim 2 in which there is an electricalcircuit for operating said motor including means for causing operationof said motor in a forward direction to move said chain in said onedirection, second operating means for causing operation of said motor ina reverse direction to move said chain in said opposite direction,control means for causing operation of said motor at high and slowspeeds in said forward and reverse directions, first switch means foroperating said control means, said first switch means being normallyconditioned IO operate said control means to cause operation of saidmotor at said high speed, cam means on said carriages for operating saidfirst switch means to operate said control means to change the operationof said motor from said high to said slow speeds as each of saidcarriages trailing said leading carriage approaches said loading stationduring movement of said train of carriages from said loading position tosaid transfer position, and second switch means for stopping said motor,said cam means on said carriages operating said second switch means tostop said motor when said carriages are at said loading station duringsaid movement of said train of carriages from said loading to saidtransfer positions.

4. in a machine according to claim 3 in which said cam means on saidleading carriage operates said first switch means to operate saidcontrol means to change the operation of said motor from said high tosaid slow s eed as said train of carriages approach said transferposition, and said cam means on said leading carriage operates saidsecond switch means to stop said motor substantially simultaneously withthe engagement of said leading carriage with said fixed stop means.

5. In a machine according to claim 4 in which said electrical circuitalso includes a first start switch which is operated to energize saidcircuit to operate said first operating means to cause operation of saidmotor in said forward direction.

6. A machine according to claim 5 in which said electrical circuit alsoincludes a second starting switch which is operated to energize andoperate said second operating means to cause operation of said motor insaid reverse direction to move said chain and said train of carriagesfrom said transfer position to said loading position, said cam means onsaid trailing carriage operating said first References Cited switchmeans during movement to said loading position FOREIGN PATENTS tooperate said control means to change the operation of said motor fromsaid high to said slow speed as said 813435 5/1959 Great i i leadingcarriage approaches said loading station, and 5 8141097 5/1959 Great f fsaid cam means on said trailing carriage operating said 814,107 5/1959Great f f second switch means during said movement of said train 852,47810/1960 Great f f of carriages to said loading position to stop saidmotor 879,643 10/1961 GreatBr1 ta1 nwhen said leading carriage is atsaid loading station. 955,091 4/1964 Great Bntam- 7. A machine accordingto claim 6 in which said electrical circuit also includes means foroperating said latch 10 MERVIN STEIN Pnmmy Exa'mnen means to releasesaid train of carriages for movement RONALD FELDBAUM,Examiner. from saidtransfer position to said loading position when said second startingswitch is operated.

1. IN A MULTISECTION KNITTING MACHINE HAVING FABRICATING MEANS FORFABRICATING FLAT SELVAGED FABRIC BLANKS TO PREFORMMED WELTS AFTERTRANSFER TO SAID FABRICATING MEANS, MEANS FOR CONVEYING SAID WELTS TO APOSITION FOR TRANSFER TO SAID FABRICATING MEANS INCLUDING A TRANSFER BARFOR A WELT FOR EACH OF SAID KNITTING SECTIONS, A TRAIN OF CARRIAGES ONWHICH SAID TRANSFER BARS ARE MOUNTED, A LOADING STATION AT THE FRONT OFSAID MACHINE ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF A TRACK ON WHICH SAID TRAIN OFCARRIAGES ARE MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT FROM A LOADING POSITION, IN WHICH ALEADING CARRIAGE OF SAID TRAIN IS AT SAID LOADING STATION TO RECEIVE AWELT AND A TRAILING CARRIAGE OF SAID TRAIN IS AT A POSITION AT THE BACKOF SAID MACHINE REMOTE FROM SAID LOADING STATION, AND A TRANSFERPOSITION IN WHICH SAID WELTS ARE TRANSFERRED FROM SAID TRANSFER BARS TOSAID FABRICATING MEANS, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID TRAIN OF CARRIAGES BETWEENSAID LOADING AND TRANSFER POSITIONS DURING WHICH EACH OF SAID TRANSFERBARS ON SAID CARRIAGES RECEIVES A WELT AT SAID LOADING STATION, FIXEDMEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LEADING CARRIAGE FOR STOPPING SAID TRAIN OFCARRIAGES IN SAID TRANSFER POSITION, AND LATCH MEANS FOR HOLDING SAIDTRAIN OF CARRIAGES IN SAID TRANSFER POSITION DURING TRANSFER OF SAIDWELTS FROM SAID TRANSFER BARS TO SAID FABRICATING MEANS.